The fire broke out Tuesday morning inside a storage room at the old Exeter Town Hall, just a few feet from where the artists meet and display their work throughout the year.

"We were devastated because it means a lot to the members to be able to display their art here, and the public has given us a great reception," John Hauschildt with the Seacoast Photographers Association said.

The photos were saved from the fire, but the exhibition had no place to go until the owners of the Newmarket Mills stepped in and offered to help.

"We are glad that we've got a new place for it in Newmarket, so we are thrilled about that," artist Jackie Linder said.

The artists spent Wednesday night packing up their photographs from the Exeter Old Town Hall and taking them to their new home.

"It's great to see how all the photographers came together to help and wrap up and transport them over to Newmarket and re-hang everything," Linder said.

The owner of Newmarket Mills said she was glad to support the artist community in New Hampshire.

"We set up this lobby space to be a public gallery space, and we were just thrilled to have the opportunity to offer a home to this great organization," Jennifer Chinburg said.

The exhibit is set up in the main lobby on the third and fourth floors of Newmarket Mills and opens Thursday. A grand opening celebration is scheduled for Saturday.

"They see the art, and then they go out and shop at local stores and eat at local restaurants, so it means a lot to the town to have art around," Hauschildt said.

It's expected to be months before the fire damage to the Town Hall is repaired.